How To Make Your Home More Cost-Efficient

How To Make Your Home More Cost-Efficient

Our homes can be the thing in our lives where we spend the most money. From the things that we need to fill it, as well as the cost of running it; it can really guzzle up or money if we let it. And if you have an older home, you will know just how much the bills can add up, as they can be inefficient to run if they’re not set up right. You need to live somewhere, but you need to be able to have enough money to live. So if your home does feel like a bit of a money pit, then here are some steps that you can take, to make sure that you create a home that is more energy-efficient, and one that costs less to run.

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Tips for a more cost-effective home.

Heat and electricity use.

Keep up to date with the general maintenance of the home. You can waste a lot of energy (and waste money as a result), because of overdue home repairs. So if you’ve got things like gutters that need some maintenance, or your windows or sliding glass doors that need to be repaired, get them looked at as soon as possible. This can help to make the home more efficient, as well as keep it looking at its best too. Keeping on top of repairs can also make things less costly, especially if you are able to deal with them before they become too much of an issue.

A lot of people think that it costs a lot of money to make a home more energy-efficient and less of a money-guzzler. But there are quite a few inexpensive things that you can try first. By simply turning the thermostat down by one degree; it can make a pretty significant difference. There are also things like checking for any drafts at windows, and getting them sealed up, as well as using thick curtains in winter to help keep the air in the room. Rugs can also be an inexpensive easy win, to keep the floor insulated.

How often do you reprogram your thermostat? When you have set programs, then you can be wasting energy if you’re not in the house when they’re on. So sticking to a manual program can be a good idea, especially if your schedule and routine changes quite a lot.

Heating your home is probably one of the last things on your mind at the moment, but when the time comes, it can be a good idea to heat one room at a time. Many older homes were designed this way, with fireplaces set up in each room. You can recreate this, without using the fire places, by controlling the thermostat valves. These days, you can even get radiator valves that are operated by Wi-Fi, so that you can easily and quickly control them.

When you have appliances plugged in but not in use, make sure that you switch the plug socket off. The same goes for when there is nothing even in the plug socket; switch them off. Not only is this safer, but it will keep a small amount of energy from being released. It is a small thing that can make a bigger difference.

Avoiding things like electric heaters can be a cheaper way to run your home. Gas fuel, though precious, is much better for the environment as it reduces over half of the amount less carbon dioxide than other heating sources do. So if you can get a gas stove rather than electric, it will make a difference to your bill, as well as to the environment.

We all need light in our homes, and it can be an easy way to save some money on our electricity bills by replacing the light bulbs that we use. Halogen bulbs not only need to be replaced quite a lot, but they do use up a lot of power. Which is why the light bulbs to use are LED light bulbs. You don’t have to compromise anything with the strength of the light, but they will save you money, for sure. The best and most cost-effective lighting is natural light.

In summer, try hanging your laundry out to dry. This is going to save you money. In winter it is going to be trickier to do that, but it can save a lot of power to switch off your dryer. In the winter I would suggest a drying rack for indoors. I personally use this rack, it also works for hanging your clothes as you fold your laundry.

Other tips:

Meal planning is a great way to save money on the day-to-day running costs of your home. It means that you only use up what is in the kitchen. When it’s time to shop you only get those ingredients that you need to make a recipe that will work. You can save quite a bit by meal planning, and if you can, buy groceries online, so that you’re not tempted by other things in store.

Checking on your roof is a good way to make sure that you’re not just throwing away money, particularly in an older home. If there is damage to your roof, it can lead to damp and mold which can be costly. Not only that, but there can be insulation problems if you have a damaged roof. So check your roof, look for signs of damp, and think about when the last time you had the roof lined or insulated. That extra layer can save you more money than you’d think, especially when it comes to winter.

Have you got anything else to add to the list? It would be great to hear what you think and what has worked for you to make a more cost-efficient home.

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Welcome

Welcome to Army Wife With Daughters. I’m Devon, a military wife and mom to three girls currently living in Alabama. When I’m not busy with the usual household tasks I love to do crafts, knit and crochet and hike with my family. Most mornings you’ll find me at home doing a quick workout, cleaning, and blogging. I’m one of those people that gets into my sweats by 6pm. I hope you enjoy reading my thoughts and will follow me on this journey called motherhood.

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